Draft rigging



DA. S. BARROWS DRAFT RIGGNG `Iuly 12, 1932.`

2 Sheetsheet l Filed March 9, 1928 :Jn/vento@ Dana/0 5. Barrows Jllly 12, 1932. DL S BARROWS 1,866,919

DRAFT RIGGING Filed March 9, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July l2, 1932 UNiiQED .STATES P ATE NT OIF YICE DONALD S. BARKOWS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SYMINGTON COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF -MARYLAND DRAFT RIGGING- Application. filed March 9,

This invention relates to draft rigging for railway rolling stock and more particularly to the connection between couplers and yokes whereby vangling' therebetween is permitted with the substitution of rocking or rolling Contact between the parts for rotational or pivotal Contact.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is the provision of a connection between couplers and yokes permitting horizontal angling, the coupler stern for that purpose being apertured for receiving a horizontal connecting key which passes through corresponding slots in the yoke, an gling between the coupler and key upon draft being permitted by having a rocker block mounted on the key with its rear surface preferably curved and Vengaging an interior rocking surface on the coupler, angling motion upon the application of bufling forces being permitted by providingl a buiiin g rocker block disposed rearwardly of the coupler lstem with front surfaces engaging rocking lugs disposed on the outside of the coupler stem, the rear surface of said block being adapted to engage cushioning mechanism or the front follower thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide for angling motion betweenthe coupler and associated yoke on the application of draft forces by providing a draft rocker block enclosed in the stem of the coupler and mounted on the connecting key between the coupler and yoke, the rear surface of said block engaging the adjacent inner surface of the coupler and one or both of said surfaces curved for permitting rocking or rolling motion therebetween.

A further object of my invention is to provide for horizontal angling motion between the coupler and associated yoke upon the application of bufling forces, said coupler for that purpose being provided with lugs on the upper and lower surfaces thereof, and a buffing rocker block'being provided for receiving the end of the coupler stem and formed with forwardly extending portions engaging said. coupler lugs, vsome or all of the engaging surfaces being curved for-permittingrocking 'or 'rolling motion' therebetween, whereby 1928. Serial No. 260,504.

said coupler is permitted to angle with 4respect to the associated draft rigging- A still further object of my invention is' to provide a coupler, the stem of which is vhollow for receiving a 4draft rocker block and the exterior of said stem is relatively tapered at the end for reception in a buffing rocker block and provided with rocking-lugs thereon for engagement with said buiiing rocker block.

Other objects and advantages of the invention relating to the particular arrangement and construction of the various parts will become apparent as the description proceeds. u

Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention, the scope whereof is defined by the appended claims:

Figure l is a partial plan and partial horizontal sectional view of draft rigging embodying my invention and particularly showing the connection between the associated coupler and yoke.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the rigging shown in VFigure l.

Figures 3 and 4C are views corresponding respectively to Figures 1 and 2 but showing a. modification.

Referring Ato the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by like reference characters, and firstrconsidering the-embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures l and Q, I have shown a coupler l connected to-a yoke 2 by means ofa horizontal key 3. Although in the present embodiment the yoke 2 is of the vertical type, it is obvious that I do not wish to be limited to the use of such a yoke as advantages ofmy invention may-be secured in using Aa horizontal yoke. The-forwardly. extending arms land 5 of the yoke are joined by loop portions or side walls 6 and 7 slotted at 8 and 9, respectively, for the vpassage of the connecting key 3 therethrough and extend one on each side of the coupler whereby angling motion therebetween is limited. Tl'ievside Walls Sand 7 `are normallyengaged by the front edge of the key V3 at the front ends of Vthe slotted portions thereof upon 'the :application of draft forces, said slots `7`b'eiiig considerably longer' than the Cil) width of the key whereby upon the application of buiiing forces rearward motion of the key and the associated coupler 1 is permitted whereby said key and yoke are relieved of such forces.

The coupler is provided with a slot 10 for receiving the key 3 wherebly7 said coupler and yoke are operatively connected together. The outer ends of said lrey pass through slotted draft lug` portions 11 and 12 which extend rearwardly from and, in the present embodiment, are integral with the combined striking casting and sill tie member 13 and serve for more securely connecting the same to the associated sills, not shown. In order to permit the insertion and removal of the coupler stem in the striking casting 13, a removable carrier iron wear plate 14 is provided, the depth of said wear plate, which is in the pres` ent embodiment shown as of the type described and claimed in my copending appication, Ser. No. 233,449, filed Nov. 15th, 1927, being suiicient to permit the butt of the coupler, which, it will be apparent has a greater vertical dimension than that of an ordinary coupler stem, to pass through said aperture upon the removal thereof.

The rearward portion of the slot y10 is enlarged to form a pocket 15 for receiving a shim 16 which I prefer to designate as a draft rocker block. Said rocher block 16 is notched on its'forward surface, as indicated at 17, to hold it in position on the rear edge of the key 3 and the rear surface 18 thereof is preferably conveXly curved, providing a vertical cyiindrical surface which, upon the application of draft forces, is engaged by the inner surface 19 of the stem of the coupler 1, said inner surface defining the rear of the pocket 15 in said stem. The upper and lower surfaces of the rocker block 16 are preferably horizontal and the adjacent surfaces of the coupler closely embrace said block with normal clearance therebetween. It will be apparent that although the surface 19 of the coupler is shown relatively fiat and the engaging surface of the block 16 is convezdy curved, yet I do not wish to be limited to this showing as both surfaces may be convexly curved or one of said surfaces may be curved to a greater degree than the other as any relative formation of the engaging surfaces which will permit rocking as distinguished from sliding contact therebetween,. is embraced within the scope and spirit of my invention. In order to provide the necessary clearance for permitting rocking between the coupler and roclrer block 16, the slot 10 in the coupler is extended beyond the front edge of the key 3, as illustrated.

In order to provide for angling motion upon the application of bufiing forces t'o the coupler, I provide what I designate as a buiing rocker block 20 which opens forwardly for the reception of the ,preferably taper- 'is formed with a corresponding lug 24 eX- tending partly into said aperture but with suiicient clearance so that upon the application of bufiing forces the rear surface of the vbufiing rocker block 2O will engage the associated front follower 25, or associated cushioning mechanism 26, indicated diagrammatically by dot and dash lines, without permitting direct engagement of the end of the coupler stem therewith.

The buffing rocker block 2O is provided with upper and lower forwardly extending walls 27 and 28, respectively, the front surfaces of which are conveXly curved in the present embodiment and upon the application of buiiing forces are engaged by upper and lower rocking lugs 29 and 30, respectively, on the stem of the coupler. The rearsurfaces of said lugs are shown conveXly curved for rocking on the adjacent surfaces of the walls 27 and 28 of the rocher block 20 but, as in connection with the engagement between the inner surface 19 of the coupler stem and the adjacent surface .on the draft rocker block, any formation of the rocking surfaces of the lugs 29 and 30 of the walls 27 and 28 permitting rolling or rocking inotion therebetween upon the application of bufling forces, as distinguished from-siiding or swiveling motion, is embraced within the scope and spirit of my invention. In order to strengthen the lugs 29 and 30, triangular' bracing gussets 31, extending forwardly along the corresponding' walls of the coupler stem, are provided. The upper and lower walls 27 and 28, respectively, of the buiiing rocker block 21 are connected at their sides by side wails 32 and 33, the front edges of which are notched, as indicated at 34, to accommodate the draft roc-lier block 16, normal clearance therebetween being provided.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, a construction is there disclosed which is very similar to that of the first embodiment, the coupler 1a being connected to the vertical yoke 2a by means of a horizontal l-:ey 3a, and the stem of the coupler and the side wa ls 6n and 7a of the volte ,being` correspondingly slotted for receiving said key, the ends of which are likewise received in correspondingly slotted portions of draft lugs 11a and 12a. The rear portion of the slot 10a in the coupler stem is, in the present embodiment, enlarged to provide a pocket 15a for receiving a draft rocher block 16"L which may correspond with the rocker block 16 of the first embodiment and be adapted to permit rocking of the coupler stem by engagement of the rocking surface 18a with thecorresponding surface 19n of the coupler stem.

The bufling rocker block 2Oa is, in the present embodiment, formed as an integral extension from the front follower 25fL and, as in the previous embodiment, embraces the rear end of the stem of the coupler la which is preferably tapered, as illustrated. Said rocker block Q0'rl is provided with upper and lower walls 27a and 28a which do not extend as far forwardly as in the first embodiment but are preferably disposed approximately directly above and below the rocking surface 18a on the draft rockerblock 16a. The stem of the coupler la is provided with corresponding upper and lower rocking lugs 29 and 30a, respectively, which correspond with the lugs 29 and 30 of the first embodiment and are correspondingly reinforced. It will be apparent that in the present embodiment the rocking surfaces on the bufling rocker block 2Oa are approximately flat as distinguished from the corresponding curved rocking surfaces of the first embodiment; It will be understood, however, that, as in the first embodiment, I am not limited to the exact showing of these rocking surfaces, the main idea being to substitute rocking or rolling for sliding friction,v thereby increasing the life of the bearing parts and making the angling motion of the coupler freer than otherwise. As in the previous embodiment the upper and lower walls 27a and 28a of the'bufhng rocker j block are connected by side walls 32 and 33a which, however, need not be notched because they do not extend forwardly of the draft rocker block 16a.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I j have provided for angling motion in a hori- Zontal plane between the stem of the coupler and the associated draft rigging, such motion being made easier and the wear on the plates being reduced by the substitution of rolling friction for sliding or swiveling friction. Upon the application of draft forces to the coupler said forces are first transmitted to the draft rocker `block and from there through the key to the yoke, cushioning mechanism, and through the front follower to the draft lugs and associated sills, not shown,rof the car. Upon the application of bufling forces the same are directly transmitted from the coupler rocker lugs, through the bufling rocker block to the front follower and cushioning mechanism and from thereto the back stop (not shown) or the rear draft lugs (not shown) and sills (not shown) of the car, the coupler, key and rocker blocks being permitted to move rearwardly with respect to the yoke.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having an interior rocking surface, a yoke, means extending through said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a shim between said coupler and transmitting means with a surface normally engaging and adapted to rock on the rocking surface of the coupler for permitting angling motion between coupler and yoke. Y

2. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having an interior rocking surface, a yoke, means extending through said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a shim disposed between the rocking surface of the coupler and said transmitting means with a rockingsurface normally adapted to permit rocking engagement of the coupler rocking surface thereon.

3. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having an interior rocking surface, a yoke, means extending through said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a shim positioned on said transmitting means andV formed with a curved surface adapted to rock on the rocking surface of the coupler for permitting angling motion between the coupler and yoke.

1l. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler havingv an interior rocking surface, a yoke, a key extending through corresponding apertures in said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a rocker block positioned on said key and formed with acurved rear surface adapted to permit rocking of the coupler rocking surface thereon for permitting hori- Zontal` angling between the coupler and yoke.

5. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a yoke, means extending through corresponding apertures in said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a plurality of rocker blocks associated with said coupler and yoke and respectively engaging interior and exterior surfaces on the coupler, whereby angling motion therebetween is permitted with rocking contact between the coupler and one of said blocks upon the application of both draft and bufling forces.

6. In'railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having a. .st-em, a yoke, a draft rocker block positioned in and having rocking engagement with said stem, a key extending through said stem and engaging said rocker. block, and a bufling rocker block positioned back of and having rocking engagement with the end of said stem and in front of associated cushioning mechanism whereby angling motion between said coupler and yoke is permitted with rolling contact .between saidV coupler and one of the rocker blocks upon the application of either draft or buiiing forces to the coupler.

Y 7. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler, a yoke, means for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a pair of rocker blocksfassociated with said coupler and movable with respect to said yoke whereby angling motion therebetween 'is permitted with rolling contact between the coupler and one of the blocks upon the application of draft forces and between the coupler and the other block upon the application of buffing forces.

8. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having a stem, a notched draft rocker block positioned in said stem, a key extending through said stem and engaging the notch in said rocker block, and a hollow buiiing rocker block positioned to embrace the end of said stem and disposed in front of associated cushioning mechanism, said blocks being formed with rocking surfaces engaging corresponding` surfaces on the coupler, whereby angling motion between said coupler and yoke is permitted with rolling Contact between said coupler and rocker blocks upon the application of both draft and buing forces.

9. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having an exterior rocking surface, a yoke, means for transmitting` draft forces therebetweem'and a rocker block back of said coupler, movable therewith on buff relative to the yoke, and with a surface which, on the application of bufiing forces, .is normally engaging and on which the rocking surface of the coupler is adapted to roll hori- 35 zontally for permittingiangling motion between coupler and yoke. Y

10. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having exterior rocking surfaces, a yoke, means extending through said 40, coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, and a rocker block movable by the'coupler relative to the yoke on buff and disposed between the rocking surfaces of the coupler and associated cushioning mechanism with rocking surfaces normally adapted to permit horizontal rolling engagement of theV coupler rocking surfaces thereon.

11. In railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having exterior lugs disposed one above another and providing rocking surfaces, a yoke, means for transmitting draft forces therebetween, a follower positioned back of the coupler and formed with surfaces adapted to roll on the rocking surfaces of the coupler for permitting angling action between the coupler and yoke.

12. In a railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having exterior rocking surfaces on the stem thereof, a yoke, a key eX- tending through corresponding apertures in said coupler and yoke for transmitting draft forces therebetween, anda rocker block embracing the rear end of said stem and formed y with front surfaces adapted to permit rolling of the coupler rocking surfaces thereon for permitting horizontal angling between the coupler and yoke.

13. In a railway draft rigging, in combination, a coupler having exterior rocking surfaces on the stem thereof and a rocker block with a forwardly opening cavity receiving the stem of said coupler and formed with surfaces on the front of walls about said cavity adapted to engage the rocking surfaces on the coupler stem for permitting horizontal angling of the coupler.

14. A coupler formed with a stem provided with a pocket for receiving a rocker block, the rear wall of said pocket being formed with a front rocking surface, said stem being also provided with exterior rearwardly facing rocking surfaces disposed forwardly of the butt of said stem for permitting angling of said coupler.

15. A coupler formed with a slotted stem, the rear portion of said slot being enlarged to provide a pocket adapted to receive a rocker block, the rear surface of said pocket providing a rocking surface, the upper and lower surfaces of said stem being provided with lugs presenting surfaces for rocking on an associated member, whereby angling of said coupler is permitted.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

DONALD S. BARROWS. 

